The county also recently notified the contractor’s bonding company, Capitol Indemnity, about the termination.

The contract was terminated by county solicitor Ted Baker in January.

Freeholders are expected to back the termination action at their next meeting.

With this recent snag in construction, the project to revamp the school seems to be never-ending – dating back to 2008 when another firm began the work.

The old Vine Street School is near the Cumberland County Courthouse.

In a previous Times article, county Administrator Ken Mecouch said the project has cost about $14.5 million. The project has consistently hit road bumps and obstacles along the way.

Prior delays were due to a decision by the previous freeholder board to only allow non-union workers to do the construction.

According to Baker, the firm had until Sept. 18, 2013, to finish the project. After missing that deadline, the firm told the county it would finish by Jan. 24.

However, Tekton Development missed that deadline as well, Baker said.

According to Baker, only 80 percent of construction is complete.

Freeholder Director Joe Derella said it is unfortunate progress has slowed.

“We cannot continue to go down this road with continuous broken promises,” Derella said. “We have decided to move forward and in another direction.”

Brendan T. Murray, president of Tekton Development, said the delays arose from constant design changes issued by the county.

“All the delays were created by the owner (Cumberland County),” Murray said.

Murray added, “We (Tekton Development) have remedies to make sure that we are not held accountable, and that Cumberland County is held accountable to us.”

Baker said it is highly possible there will be some kind of litigation with Tekton Development in the future.

Work at the construction site has been halted. According to Mecouch, locks have also been changed.

Baker said it is now up to Capitol Indemnity to decide how to move forward.

“Either the bonding company (Capitol Indemnity) is going to take over and provide a contractor – with the county maintaining oversight – or Capitol Indemnity will tell us that we have to take over and go out to bid and hire another contractor,” Baker said.

Derella said, once a contractor is hired and work commences, he hopes the project will be completed within three to four months.